By Bob Phillips
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| Jonquel Jones led the way with 22 points and seven boards as the Sun routed the Dallas Wings, 102-72. |
After a slow start, the Sun opened an eight-point lead,
24-16, at the first turn and never looked back. Connecticut enjoyed a 49-26
advantage at halftime and pulled further away at the third. As they entered the
fourth and final quarter leading 73-46, victory was in the air.
Then, in the fourth quarter, former UConn star Morgan Tuck,
who had just five points to that point, poured in 12 more points. Game, set,
match. Playoffs, here we come.
“I think tonight was a perfect game for our team,” said
Tuck. “We didn’t play perfect, but we clinched a top 2 seed and had a lot of
fun doing it.”
Arike Ogunowale, the first-year guard out of Notre Dame and
a leading candidate for WNBA Rookie of the Year accolades, led all scorers with
32 points. Indeed, the first-year guard out of Notre Dame scored 14 of the
Wings’ 26 first-half points—a half in which her teammates shot just 29 percent
(5-for-17 from the field). Allisha Gray added 15 points for Dallas, which fell
to 10-22.
Besides JJ’s 22 and Tuck’s 17, Alyssa Thomas (13),
Shekinna Stricklen (11), Rachel Banham (11) and Jasmine Thomas (10) scored in
double digits for the home team.
“Proud of that locker room tonight,” said Connecticut head
coach and GM Curt Miller, himself a candidate for WNBA Coach of the Year and
Executive of the Year recognition. Miller was particularly happy with his
team’s shooting performance (36-for-63 from the field, for a scorching 57.1
percent; that included an 11-for-25 performance from beyond the three-point
arc).
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| Courtney Williams and her Sun teammates will get a breather when the WNBA playoffs start. The Sun are guaranteed at least a No. 2 seed, which gives Connecticut byes in the first and second rounds. |
“Tonight we shot the ball fantastically,” he continued. “We
were really efficient offensively. We did a really good job screening and that
contributed to a lot of actions that worked for us tonight.”
And while he was happy with his team’s overall defensive
performance—the Sun’s calling card all season long, he nonetheless sees room
for improvement. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be a coach, right?
“We were solid in stretches defensively when we needed to
be,” said Miller. “We need to be better overall. Big win means that coveted
spot was huge tonight.”
With the win, the Sun improve to 23-9, and trail the 24-8
Mystics by one game for that elusive No. 1 seed.
“We’re excited to be the 2 seed right now; hopefully we can
bump it up,” said J.J. “But it’s a blessing and I think we’ve worked really
hard. It just shows that it’s a combination of everybody’s effort.”
Nailing down at least a 2 seed was an important goal for the
Sun as the top two seeds earn first- and second-round byes and spots in the
WNBA best-of-five semifinal series. The first two rounds are of the
one-and-done variety.
“We were very vocal going into the season on the coveted one
and two spots,” continued Miller. “Once the season got started, we didn’t talk
much about it until that goal was tangible and reachable here at the end of the
season. But we know what that does for us and we wanted to take the next step.
I give them credit. They’ve grinded the entire year to give them that
opportunity.”
The Sun return to action for their last regular season home
game on Friday when they host the Chicago Sky. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and
will be televised on NESN+. Connecticut concludes the regular season on the
road on Sunday, Sept. 8. When the Sun travel to Indianapolis to take on the
Indiana Fever. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. and the game will be televised on on The
CW, WCCT channel 20. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit
ConnecticutSun.com.
Playoff Tix On Sale
Tickets for the Sun’s semifinal round went on sale today at
noon. Games 1 and 2 of the WNBA Semifinals will be played at Mohegan Sun Arena
on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Sept. 19.
Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-five series will be hosted by the lower
seed on Sept. 22 and 24, respectively. If necessary, Game 5 will be played at
Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday, Sept. 26. Game times and broadcast information
are TBD. Tickets start at $23. Fans can purchase by visiting
ConnecticutSun.com.
The Sun will play one of the winners to the WNBA’s two
second-round, single-elimination playoff games. Those games are scheduled for
Sun., Sept. 15. For a complete breakdown of the WNBA Playoff format and
standings, visit the Connecticut Sun’s Playoff Central on ConnecticutSun.com.
Hurricane Relief
All cash sales from the Sun’s first playoff game on Sept. 17
will benefit victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The non-profit will be
selected at the conclusion of the WNBA season. The Sun’s All-Star forward
Jonquel Jones, a native of the Bahamas, has also established a GoFundMe page to
assist the recovery efforts as well. In just over 24 hours, Jones has raised
$22k.
“We get caught up in wins, losses, postseason seeding—and
then Hurricane Dorian happens and it provides immediate perspective about
what’s important,” said Vice President of Sports Amber Cox. “JJ is a special
player, but even better person. Immediately when the storm hit the Bahamas, our
fans, her teammates and coaches and the entire organization wanted to help.
This generous donation to a deserving non-profit assisting the recovery efforts
in the Bahamas is really an indicator of what the Mohegan Tribe is all
about—people and family above all. The support we receive is truly unmatched.”
—with staff reports
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